Artificial butterfly



Sept. 10, 1929. A. P. DICKSON ARTIFICIAL BUTTERFLY Filed Dec. 14, 1928 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Qmumtoz 1212902,

Sept. 10, 1929. A. P. Dncxsou ARTIFICIAL BUTTERFLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Dec. 14, 1928 Patented Sept. 10, 1929.

PATENT OFFICE.

ANNA P. DICKSON, OF WILLIMAN'IIC, CONNECTICUT.

ARTIFICIAL BUTTERFLY.

Application filed December 14, 1928. Serial No. 326,001

This invention relates broadly. to an improved ornament for domesticuse, and it has more specific reference to an improved artificialbutterfly r analogous insect, and

, the method of manufacturing the same.

As indicated in the general introductory statement of the invention,novelty is preclicated in one instance upon a new product ofmanufacture, preferably in the form of an 9 artificial or imitationbutterfly, characterized by a distinctively made article including anintimate association of details especially selected to produce anartistic and lifelike butterfly or equivalent insect.

An equal degree of novelty is also found in the unique and originalmethod of manufacturing an article of this class which permitsutilization of readily accessible parts capable of being fabricated intoa new and complete assembly of elements especially useful for bothornamental and manufacturing reasons.

My principal object is to provide a composite structure which, it isbelieved, will supersede similar products, either' marketed or patented,a structure which is simple and economical, practical and modern, andpreviously unequaled in the art. In the drawings, wherein like referencecharacters are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a combined elevational and perspective view of the completeproduct of manufacture made in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the major details thereof.

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken approximately uponthe plane of the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4; is a detail section taken substantially on the plane of theline 4L4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an elevational view of the single length of wire which isbent and utilized in constructing the frame-work of the device.

Figure 6 is a View showing the first step in bending the free endportions of the wire for making the loop portion of the head.

Figure 7 is a view showing the second step,

which consists in wrapping the wire in a mani preferably crepe paper andcut this to provide a pair of outstretched wings 11 and a centralized orintervening portion 12 constituting the top section of the body. Thispaper is painted or printed in a variagated manner to represent thecolorful features characteristic of a butterfly. For, sake of rigidity,the paper is shellacked or waxed on both sides. This adds to theadornment and is desirable for decorative purposes.

This ornate paper portion of the product is attached to and mounted on aspecial wire frame work, the principal details of which will be clearlyevident upon examining Figures 5 to 8 inclusive. In making this frame.work, I prefer to employ a single length of comparatively fine resilientwire. For example, I found it convenient to utilize a piece of wiresubstantially twenty-four inches in length. This is shown for instancein Figure 5 wherein it willbe observed that the wire is bent betweenitsends as at 13 to provide a pair of duplicate arm portions 14. Fastenedon these arm portions at about three inches from the free ends are blackbeads 15 which function in forming eyes. For sake of distinction, theportions of the wire beyond the beads indicated at 16 are designated asfree end portions, while the remaining portions 17 are distinguishableas stem portions. Referring next to Figure 6 it will be seen that thefree end portions 16 are bent upon themselves adjacent the beads 15 toprovide a loop 18. This constitutes a portion of the head of the insect.Next, the portions 16 are wrapped about the portions 17 as shown inFigure 7 to provide a rigid shank as at 19 (see Figure 7 Finally, thefree end portions are directed outwardly in divergent re lationship toprovide wing supports. It is convenient to mention herethat theextremities of these portions 16 are fastened to the under side of thewings by gummed seals or stickers 20 as seen in Figure 2. The portions17 are wrapped or coiled about a supporting stick 21 as indicated at 22in Figure 1. In practice this stick may be placed in a vase UL otherreceptacle to .conceal it and to. allow the portions 17 to be exposedfor suspending the artificial insects in a freely flexible and floatingmanner.

Before the wire frame-work is attached to the paper part 10, however, Ihave found it convenient to place in position the feelers or antennae asshown for example in Figure 8. For this purpose I utilize black linenthread 23 and I tie the intermediate portion thereof in the aforesaidloop 18 as at 24: so as to substantially cover the wire but to exposethe imitation eyes. The free ends are then disposed in outwardlydiverging relation. They too are freely flexible.

A complemental part of the structure is shown in Figure 9. This isdesignated by the numeral 25. This part 25 is hereinafter known as thethorax and abdomen. It comprises a molded body of'wax 26 whose'flatsurface is fastened to the framework and paper'by a suitable adhesive sothat it occupies the position shown in Figure 2. The curved contour sideof the wax, is painted, after which I sprinkle powdered silk thereon,the silk being designated by the reference character 27 and serving toimpart a life-like appearance to this portion ofthe structure.Incidentally, in some instances, it may be necessary in manufacturingthe structure to form a. hole in the wax part 25 and to extend tie ports17 of the wire through the central portion thereof somewhat as indicatedin Figure 2. However, the relationship of the wires tothe part 25 maybevaried slightly as experiments have shown.

- From the foregoing description and drawings, it will be seen that Ihave evolved and produced a structural achievement in the art which iseconomical, practicable to manufacture, and realistic in design,appearance, and action. Particularly do I wish to emphasize theemployment of a wire frame-work which 7 provides a desired reinforcementand mounting for the treated paper and which also provides a yieldablesupport readily attachable to an anchoring stick or equivalent such asmay be conveniently utilized in holding the complete article in displayposit-ion. Further, I wish to emphasize the particular method ofmanufacture which is commercially desirable, and efficient from theviewpoint of the manufacturer. It is thought, however, that these andother features and advantages of the invention will doubtless be clearafter reading the description in connection with the drawings. Thereforea more lengthy description is regarded unnecessary.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming withinthe field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice ifdesired.

That I claim is:

1. An ornament of the class described comprising a stick, a flexiblewire attached to and extending outwardly from one end of said stick andterminating in outwardly diverging free end portions, and an artificialbutterfly attached to said free end portions.

2. As a new product of manufacture, an artificial butterfly-comprising aflat sheet of flexible material cut and decorated to pro.- vide a pairof outspread wings and an intervening body portion, an imitation headattached to the central portion of said sheet vening body portion, animitation head at- 'tached to the central portion of said sheet materialand disposed in alinement with said body portion and includingartificial eyes and complemental 'antennze, and an imitation abdomen andthorax fastened to the underside of said body portion, said thorax andabdomen being formed from molded wax whose exposed surfaces are coatedwith powdered silk.

4. An ornament of the class described'comprising a supporting frameincluding a rigid shank portion having a loop at one end and providedwith outwardly diverging wing supports at its inner end, and furtherhaving a flexible stem portion connected to its inner end, a pair ofbeads mounted on said loop and functioning as eyes, a length of treatedthread wrapped around said loop in a manner to expose said eyes andhaving its free end portion extending from said loop in outwardlydiverging relationship to function as flexible antennae, and animitation butterfly mounted upon said frame and attached to said shankand wing supporting arm.

5. The method of making an imitation nature.

ANNA P; DIGKSON.

